Tony Mowbray is under no illusion that teams will look to target Stewart Downing when employed as a left back, but feels the 35-year-old’s ability on the ball can be an invaluable weapon.

Downing started four consecutive matches in a previously unfamiliar left back role before not featuring for just the second time since signing for Rovers in the win at Bristol City.

Best known for his days as a flying winger, Downing has impressed since agreeing a one-year deal at Ewood Park, first in a central midfield role and more recently at left back.

That is a position that has seen plenty of change, with Amari’i Bell, captain Elliott Bennett and Downing all been used there since losing Greg Cunningham to injury for the rest of the season.

Bell took Downing’s place at Bristol City and put in a solid display as Rovers stretched their unbeaten run to six games and kept a third clean sheet in that run.

Mowbray will now weigh up who to start there against Wigan Athletic on Monday, but says Downing’s quality on the ball has helped Rovers gain more control of the ball, as well as helping to negate the possibility of the former Middlesbrough man being targeted defensively.

The boss said: “There will be times when teams, and I look at every team in the same way, are looking at us and think ‘we’ve got to get at the left back, we’ve got to play our fastest winger out there’.

“There will some days where he will find it tough to stop players who are lightning fast, but because he’s good with the ball I know that he will be able to pass around him, ask questions of him going the other way.

“We have to be mindful of what the opposition’s thought patterns will be, but that’s why I talk about ball retention.

“I don’t expect us to be the best ball retention team in the league, but I expect us to be better than we have for the last two-and-a-half years with the ball.

“With Downing, Dack, Holtby, Rothwell, Adarabioyo, players who are really comfortable with the ball at their feet, we should be better at keeping the ball off the opposition.

“If we’ve got the ball then the opposition can’t hurt us. It’s about getting the balance and the combinations right.

“I’m happy for him, happy that at 35 he’s managing to play game after game. He’s super-human. His knee isn’t 100 per cent but he wants to play.”